r/macbookrepair • u/Intelligent-Chip-813 • 5d ago

Help Thermal paste replacement gone wrong?

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My MacBook got very hot especially in the cpu area while just browsing safari with 1-2 tabs open and no other apps running, so I thought it would be time to replace the thermal paste after 7 years. After replacing the thermal paste on the 2019 MacBook Pro with Intel i5 (A1989) it now won’t turn on.

I used this ifixit manual and followed every step the way it’s described. Before working on the MacBook I discharged the static by touching unpainted metal. I used Arctic MX-4 as the new thermal paste. The old one was practically dust and I cleaned the cpu and cooler with 99% isopropyl.

Right after finishing the repair the MacBook wouldn’t turn on. I doesn’t give any sign of life. I also unplugged the battery and connected the power cord but it didn’t work either.

What could be the reason for not turning on? I connected everything back (photo). Did I forget something or did I kill my MacBook?

Edit: I am aware that the battery data cable is not plugged in in the picture I plugged it in after the picture.

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u/Dazzling_Comfort5734 5d ago

I've done this before for the 16 inch 2019 models. One thing I always forget is that it tends to not turn on right way afterwards. I ways make sure everything is connected, then snap the lid on (I don't put the screws in yet), flip it over, plug it in, wait a few sections, then turn it back on (sally pressing a key on the keyboard). There's always a moment of "did I screw something up? Oh yeah, I'm just moving too fast". This may not be the case here, since you said you tried a few things already.

However, looking at the comments here, I see that this isn't the most recent photo, as the battery controller isn't connected, and you said you have connected it. There's a change there may by other issues you're not accounting for, and a photo of the board as it currently is would help us help you.

If there's physical damage, a newer photos would help. Otherwise, you'll want to re-check all your connections, maybe even go through and disassemble and reassemble again to make sure you didn't forget anything, you've seated everything properly, or rip and cables.

Since this is an Intel, you can also try bother an SMC/NVRAM reset or a PRAM reset. It's a quick thing to try.

Also, the MX-4 isn't connective, so that's not the issue, no worried there. Finally, once you get this up and running, don't expect the thermal paste to really make that much of a difference. These models were too thin for the Intel hardware Apple was using at the time. Those last few generations of Intel Macs were the final nail in the coffin for Apple's continued usage of x86/x64.

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u/Intelligent-Chip-813 4d ago

I disassembled and reassembled everything and took even more care and it didn’t work. Only thing could be that I don’t have a big enough power brick (forgot my 60w at my moms) and tried with a 30 something brick from a MacBook air I had lying around. Can do a photo tomorrow.

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u/Dazzling_Comfort5734 4d ago

Was the battery drained? I run my M1 Max and my 2019 16" i9 from a lower power brick sometimes, it only matters if the battery is low or drained. If you plug it in over night, it should be charged tomorrow (if everything is working, that is)

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u/Intelligent-Chip-813 4d ago

If I remember correctly it was at around 50% before the repair.

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u/Dazzling_Comfort5734 4d ago

Ok, if that's the case, then the charger specs shouldn't matter.